SPIEF Session to Address Role of Science in Strategic Decision-Making in Arctic

Experts from the Russian Geographical Society (RGS) will discuss the role that science plays in making strategic management decisions about the forms of human presence in Russia’s Arctic zone during the session ‘Science and Strategic Solutions in the Arctic’ at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on 16 June 2022.

The RGS has historically worked on the development of the Arctic based on the principles of studying, preserving, and promoting Russia’s natural, ethnographic, and cultural heritage as a matter of national pride. The RGS is an integrator of ambitious initiatives for the development of the Arctic region. Such initiatives include research work and projects under the auspices of leading Russian scientists to study the geophysical and hydrological processes of the Arctic ecosystems. In addition, the RGS conducts environmental safety measures that include monitoring the state of the environment and cleaning up man-made pollution in the area. Focusing on fundamental scientific research helps to create a reliable basis for adopting strategic decisions about the forms of manmade presence and solve social, economic, and infrastructural problems in Russia’s Arctic zone.

Speakers include RGS First Vice President, Chairman of the RGS Council of Regions, and Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Artur Chilingarov, Chairman of the Geography and Geographical Sciences Commission of the Moscow City Branch of the RGS Mikhail Grigoryev, and Deputy Director for Research of the Melnikov Permafrost Institute and Director of the Zubov State Oceanographic Institute Igor Ivachev.

In addition, during the session, Yury Vasilyev, executive director of the Institute of Arctic Technologies of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, will talk about plans to build Snezhinka, the world’s first carbohydrate-free autonomous scientific and educational complex that runs on hydrogen energy, and discuss prospects for its use in the region with other discussion participants. This project for international research infrastructure in the Arctic was previously presented to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The session will be moderated by Valdis Pelsh, the author and producer of the film The Arctic. See You Tomorrow.

The session ‘Science and Strategic Solutions in the Arctic’ is part of the programme of the ‘Arctic: Territory of Dialogue’ stand at the SPIEF, which will take place on 15–18 June 2022. The stand will also host three of the main events of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council. These events include the Conference on Telecommunication Development and Digitalization in the Arctic and the International Seminar on Shipbuilding and Ship Repair in the Arctic. In addition, the Creative Business Forum at the SPIEF 2022 will host discussions on the development of creative industries in the northern territories. The Roscongress Foundation is organizing the events of Russia’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2021–2023.

Russia is the chair of the Arctic Council in 2021–2023. A cross-cutting priority of Russia’s chairmanship is to ensure responsible governance for the sustainable development of the Arctic. Russia intends to promote collective approaches to the balanced development of the Arctic in the social, economic, and environmental dimensions based on respect for international law.